There’s a reason ‘new years resolutions’ made in January often don’t stick; because the darkness and cold of January 1st may mark ‘new year’ on the calendar, but it’s not truly the new year at all. The beginning of Spring - when nature comes alive again and plants and animals reawaken - is nature’s ‘new year’, and much more supportive when it comes to setting intentions and making changes.
Our bodies and minds respond to the world around us, and when the hours and levels of sunlight start to increase, this supports the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which help boost feelings of motivation and energy. When we lean into the support of nature, we’re likely to find that our ability to create resolutions, changes and healthy new habits throughout Spring is more do-able, enjoyable and sustainable.
This isn’t about overhauling your life or being ‘perfect’. It’s about creating sustainable steps and integrating positive actions that will truly support you on a daily basis throughout the entire year. Think; small steps lead to sustainable change.
With that in mind, we’ve created a 21 day health reset, which gives you gentle suggestions and reminders as we approach nature’s ‘new year’. These aren't about making drastic changes, but tapping into those small steps for sustainable change in your body, your mind, your life and the world around you. Here are our 7 tips to experiment with throughout the health re-set:
Embrace Light & Darkness
If there’s one lifestyle recommendation we’d always prioritise, it’s connecting your body to the natural rhythms of light and dark. After a long Winter with less sunlight, mood, energy and metabolism may feel a little low or sluggish, and as the mornings become a little brighter again, it’s time to make the most of it.
When morning sunlight hits your eyes, it relays a message to your brain that lets you know it’s daytime. This sets off a cascade of positive effects, like improving energy levels, boosting mood and motivation, and improving metabolic function. On the flip side; when you don’t get enough morning light, you’re way more likely to feel groggy, sleepy and have more blood sugar swings throughout the day.
When the sun has set, it’s equally as important to avoid excessive light. Whilst we want plenty of bright light in the daytime to let the body know that it is indeed daytime, we don’t want to communicate these messages when it’s night time… Switching screens off, turning lights down or wearing blue light blocking glasses in the evening can all help reduce feelings of stress and support sleep and recovery. They aren’t fancy biohacking secrets; they’re daily practices to deeply support every aspect of your wellbeing.
Here’s how we put it into practice:
- As soon as you can after waking, step outside for 2-5 minutes to expose your eyes to morning sunlight. You can stack this with habits you already do to make it easier, like drinking your morning tea or coffee or practicing breathing exercises. If you wake up before sunrise, try getting out when the sun comes up.
- After sunset, turn overhead lights off and use full spectrum or ‘red light’ bulbs (like these from Boncharge) dim lamps or even use candles. If you’ll be spending your evening on screens, consider investing in a pair of blue light blocking glasses to block the lightwaves that may overstimulate your system.
Move Your Body
Winter was the season to rest, restore and rebuild your energy. As Spring arrives, it’s time to start using that energy and moving your body again. From an ancestral perspective, humans would have spent a little more time sleeping, and less time moving and ‘exercising’ in Winter, and more time moving and exploring in Spring as we increased the amount of time spent hunting and gathering.
Movement is vital for our wellbeing, but it’s important to focus on the types of movement you actually enjoy. What is it that makes you feel good, builds strength and helps you feel healthier?
Here’s how we put it into practice:
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Daily walks
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Strength training 2-3x per week
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Cardio that feels joyful, not stressful
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Regular stretching, especially on rest days
Focus on Seasonal, unprocessed foods
Nature is always giving us what we need, when we need it. Foods naturally available during Spring often support detoxification and energy levels, and provide us with nutrients that may have become depleted throughout Winter. Check our Spring Nutrient Guide for the top 10 nutrients to focus on this Spring, and try adding these in-season foods to your plate which support liver and digestive health:
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Wild garlic
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Water cress
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Asparagus
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Purple sprouting broccoli
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Chicory
Seek stress support
We can’t always control the stresses life brings up, but we can make decisions about how we respond to them. It’s easy to let stress build up and accept it as ‘normal’, but long term stress can seriously deplete the body of important nutrients and cause excessive collagen breakdown, leading to issues with skin, joints and gut health. Reducing stress is vital for hormonal health, energy, sleep and gut health, but it doesn’t have to mean making huge life changes. Small, sustainable and consistent habits are often much more effective.
Here’s how we put it into practice:
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5 minutes of journaling first thing in the morning - simply ‘brain dump’ whatever comes into your mind
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The 4-6 breathing technique at midday to re-set
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A guided meditation in the evening for relaxation (something like this is great)
Boost your nutrient intake
Spring is a great time to focus on replenishing and revitalising your nutrient stores and reflecting upon small, sustainable changes you could make to your diet so it deeply serves and nourishes you. If you’re feeling lethargic or foggy, if you have joint pain, gut issues or noticing your skin, hair or nails need a little TLC, these are signs your body needs more nutrient-dense foods.
As well as focusing on seasonal, unprocessed foods, Beef Organs are a key way to make sure your body is getting what it needs in an easy to absorb form. We know lots of people who have ditched their synthetic multivitamin supplements in favour of Beef Organs, as they’re made up of the earth’s most nutritious foods - heart, liver and kidney - and contain a balance of nutrients that your body recognises and can actually use well. You could think of them as the earth’s original ‘multivitamin’.
“Delighted with this and to be honest, I'm surprised at how good it is. I bought this after reading a lot about the benefits of consuming organs. My mood is better, my digestion is good but the surprising benefit is how much better my skin is. My face is as clear as it has ever been. Will be subscribing to this.” - Steve C.
“I’ve been taking the beef organ capsules for about a month and a half now, and I can feel such a difference in my energy levels and mood. I have a greater resilience to stress. It is so noticeable, it’s incredible. It has replaced my multivitamin and I have no doubt it is giving me so much more than the multi was. Honestly, life changing!” - Sarah
Community & connection
From an ancestral perspective, Winter is the season for introversion and more time spent with our closest loved ones. As the days become longer and warmer, humans would have started making our way into the world again; hunting, gathering and exploring new lands. This would have naturally brought us into contact with other tribes and expanded our social circles, and even though the world is a lot different today, we’re still programmed to seek out more social connection when Spring arrives. Not only does reconnecting with others help us tap into our ancestral roots, it’s proven to improve longevity, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and improve overall wellbeing
Here’s how we put it into practice:
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Gathering for meals with friends and family regularly
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Keeping in touch with family, even if it's through phone calls or video chats
- Spending one day a week without technology so we can deepen connections to nature and those around us.